Nathaniel Dance-Holland

(b London, 18 May 1735; d Winchester, 15 Oct 1811). Painter and politician, elder son of (1) George Dance (i). He trained under Francis Hayman before travelling to Rome in 1754. As Nathaniel Dance he established himself as a portrait painter but was determined to succeed as a history painter. His picture the Death of Virginia (1759; untraced, but known from a sketch, London, Soane Mus.) is of documentary importance as the first dated Classical history painting by a British artist working in Rome. In 1762 Dance assisted Pompeo Girolamo Batoni, whose influence brightened his palette and introduced him to a grander clientele, including Edward Augustus, Duke of York (1739-67), who sat for both artists in 1764 (Dance's Edward Augustus, Duke of York, London, Buckingham Pal., Royal Col.). In the same year Dance painted a portrait of Angelica Kauffman (Burghley House, Cambs), with whom he was in love. He returned to London in 1765 and rapidly achieved fame as a portrait and history painter. His Timon of Athens (1767; London, Buckingham Pal., Royal Col.) was purchased by George III; but after the King appointed Benjamin West to be his history painter in 1772, Dance concentrated on portraits. He was among the 22 artists who successfully petitioned the King in 1768 to establish a Royal Academy, and he served for periods as a council member and visitor, until 1782. At the Academy's first exhibition (1769) Dance showed full-length portraits of George III and Queen Charlotte (Uppark, W. Sussex, NT); two years later he exhibited David Garrick as Richard III (Stratford-on-Avon, Town Hall). In the mid-1770s Dance became financially independent, and his output declined sharply, virtually ceasing after his marriage in 1783 to a wealthy widow. He resigned from the Academy in 1790 on his election as Member of Parliament for East Grinstead and subsequently only exhibited occasional landscapes as a 'gentleman'. In 1800 he was created a baronet and assumed the name of Dance-Holland; he died worth over

See the Abbreviations for further details.

Selfportrait of Nathaniel Dance-Holland, circa 1773.

Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland, 1st Baronet (8 May 1735 – 15 October 1811) was a notable English portrait painter and later a politician.

The third son of architect George Dance the Elder, Dance (he added the 'Holland' suffix later in life) studied art under Francis Hayman, and like many contemporaries also studied in Italy. There he met Angelica Kauffmann, and painted several historic and classical paintings.

On his return to England, he became a successful portrait painter. With Hayman and his architect brother George Dance the Younger, he was one of the founder members of the Royal Academy in 1768.

He was commissioned to paint King George III and his queen, plus Captain James Cook and actor David Garrick. His group portrait The Pybus Family (1769) is in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia.^[1]

James Cook, portrait by Nathaniel Dance, c. 1775, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

In 1790, he gave up his artistic career and became Member of Parliament for East Grinstead in Sussex. He served this seat until 1802 when he moved to Great Bedwyn, serving until 1806. In 1807 he returned to East Grinstead, serving until his death in 1811. He was made a baronet in 1800, which became extinct upon his death.

He was married to Harriet, the widow of Thomas Dummer (died 1781), for whom his brother had designed the house at Cranbury Park, near Winchester.^[2] His wife survived him until 1825.^[2]

His nephew, Sir Nathaniel Dance (1748–1827), was a well-known commander of British East India Company ships.

Notes

1. ^ www.ngv.vic.gov.au
2. ^ ^{a b} "Horninghold, Gartree Hundred". Victoria County History of Leicestershire. http://www.horninghold.org.uk/history/victoria%20county%20history%20of%20leicestershire_horninghold.pdf. Retrieved 23 September 2009. 

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nathaniel Dance

• Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs
• Leigh Rayment's Baronetage Page

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2007)

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Richard Ford	Member of Parliament for East Grinstead 1790–1800	Succeeded by (Parliament of Great Britain abolished)
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by (self, in Parliament of Great Britain)	Member of Parliament for East Grinstead 1801–1802	Succeeded by Sir Henry Strachey
Preceded by Sir Robert John Buxton	Member of Parliament for Great Bedwyn 1802–1806	Succeeded by James Henry Leigh
Preceded by Sir Henry Strachey	Member of Parliament for East Grinstead 1807–1811	Succeeded by Richard Wellesley

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)